Leave or face death: Northern Muslims are warned again
About 75,000 Muslims were chased from the Northern Province in November 1990, after a 48-hour deadline. They were ordered not to take any of their belongings which included movable property including jewellery and documents on their property rights. Symbolically, they were requested to shed even the dust of the northern soil before they left. It was a tragic story of thousands of people leaving their homes and homeland. Their misery went unrecorded.

The international community which is sympathetic to the Tamil cause was silent on the plight of the Muslims.

Perhaps, the Muslim propaganda machinery did not exist, nor was the west sympathetic towards the Muslims in general due to historical reasons. It is ironical that this act was committed by a group which claims to be fighting for a homeland and against discrimination by the majority. The international community, including the local and international NGOs, was a mere onlooker and did not dare raise its voice. Voices, if any, were whispers. Long after, when questioned the LTTE replied that it was a mistake. They left it at that.

Immediately after the peace process was begun, LTTE supporters, when questioned on the possibility of the Muslims returning to their homes, replied that there is nothing to prevent them from coming back. Then after the historic meeting between the SLMC and the LTTE leader, Muslims were told that they could get back to their lands. Now at various fora, to satisfy the donor community, statements are made by the LTTE leadership welcoming the Muslims. Words and phrases such as "homeland of the Tamil-speaking people" are repeated for the benefit of the donor community.

Last year, Muslims began returning to their homeland, leaving their kith and kin in camps. Very few have taken their families. Some families have returned to Mannar island. Muslim men have gone to Mannar mainland to cultivate their paddy lands. Others have gone to Jaffna to look at the possibility of commencing their old life.

Around August, there was a notice in Mannar that was directed to the Muslims ordering them to leave, threatening that if they did not, they would face death and torture. It was signed by the 'Ellalan Army'. The LTTE denied knowledge of this notice. Subsequently, a second notice was sent by the same group a few months ago.

In the week beginning March 24, this year, it was reported that Muslims had been beaten up by Tamils in Jaffna on two days. They are still under threat. These are the strong messages and signals coming from the LTTE. Therefore, less value should be placed on public utterances by the LTTE. Such public utterances and their conduct are diametrically opposed.

The LTTE cannot deny responsibility for this. In the so-called government-controlled areas in the north and the east, the presence of the LTTE is strongly felt. If one visits Mannar, Jaffna or Batticaloa, the presence of the LTTE is all over. Civilians claim that all major activities are controlled by the LTTE. Recruitment to the LTTE army and of child soldiers still takes place in these areas. The LTTE collects taxes which can be termed extortions. Persons who dare to defy them are called to their offices and warned severely. Even the government and the SLMM are aware of this. People in government areas are of the view that they have been denied their fundamental rights to freedom of speech and association, by the LTTE.

The notices in Mannar demanding that the Muslims leave and the recent incidents of violence in Jaffna could not have taken place without the knowledge or sanction of the LTTE. It is surprising that the Muslims and others who are involved in the peace efforts do not raise these issues. Do they feel that the peace process would tumble if they speak out or they would be considered bad boys? The peace movements and the NGO sector in the south are silent, a silence which speaks for itself.

Displaced Muslims have to be looked at from a different perspective. They were forcibly evicted for ethnic cleansing purposes and they had to be resettled in the areas controlled by those who evicted them for no reason. They cannot be equated with the other displaced people. There are two definitions for the displaced: internally displaced if they are living within the country and refugees if they are living outside the country. Ironically, the displaced have to fit into containers with this label even if the label is not appropriate. The right words should be forcibly evicted persons.

The LTTE's message is clear. The government is also blind to the conduct of the LTTE. The government is not prepared to relocate these Muslims in the south with political and civil rights, for fear of disturbing the ethnic balance in those areas.

Meanwhile, the international community and donors have serious obligations to focus immediate attention on displaced Muslims from the point of equity, justice and fairplay.
Displaced Muslim
Colombo

Rahu Kalaya and Buddhists
In a regular astrological programme telecast over a private TV channel recently, the moderator asked the astrologer why we Sri Lankans, in spite of the fact that the majority of us observe auspicious times and 'Rahu Kalaya' before doing anything are lagging behind those western countries which do not care two hoots about such things, economically.

The astrologer seemed to be taken aback momentarily, but soon recovered, and with an all-knowing smile delivered some lies such as: all the newspapers in the USA and UK carry 'Rahu Kalaya' timings and people strictly follow such astrological advice; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) consults astrologers as a rule prior to launching space shuttles or rockets.

Most of us Sri Lankans are procrastinators and that is one of the main reasons why our economy has not taken off. Astrology has always aided procrastination.

Lord Buddha, in His great wisdom, once said, "Attho atthassa nakkhatthan-Kin Karissanthi Tharaka?" meaing "When something has to be done, that is the auspicious time to do it. What can the stars do?" He has further extolled the virtues of doing things without delay. Therefore, the followers of that great teacher have no right to procrastinate for whatever reason.

But, unfortunately, it is the Buddhists who always put off things to avoid Rahu Kalaya and inauspicious times, resulting in delayed outputs. Astrologers are perpetuating that state of affairs to ensure their own survival.

Astrology itself is based on the wrong notion of a geo-centric universe. Therefore, it cannot be treated as a science. At best, it is a pseudo-science! Furthermore, how come the so-called all-seeing sages or Rishis, who are said to have originated astrology, failed to realize the existence of planets such as Uranus, Neptune and Pluto in our own solar system?
N.P. Karunadasa
Werellagama

Chalk, teachers and TB
If anyone looked at a breakdown of the tuberculosis statistics, a good percentage would have been teachers. Teachers are more susceptible to TB than those in other professions because they inhale a large quantity of chalk dust while writing with chalk and cleaning the blackboard.

The chalk dust thus inhaled for about 35 years gets deposited along the respiratory tract and teachers become prone to diseases. So far teachers' unions have not identified this health hazard. It is time the authorities gave thought to saving teachers from such health hazards.
P.A. Binduhewa
Panadura

Should we pardon Janaki's killers?
A poor 16-year-old-girl, Janaki Kumari, who was sleeping with her mother in her humble hut in Polonnaruwa was dragged out by a gang of six at about 2.30 a.m, raped and killed on March 30, according to reports. A neighbour who went to her assistance was also killed. Her mother and two other women who confronted the gang were injured.

Anusha Damayanthi, a 27-year-old from Oruwala was strangled while she was feeding her 18-month-old child.

I wish to ask the so-called intellectuals and human rights activists whether we should pardon the six-member gang and only investigate the reasons that led to the rape and murder as, otherwise, their human rights will be violated. Should we turn a blind eye to the victims? Is it Janaki's fate (karma) that such a thing happened to her?

This reminds me of the judgement given by the King of Kekille.

We should ignore these human rights activists and impose the death sentence for murder, rape and drug trafficking.
Wasantha Rajapakse
Kalutara South

Name confusion
This is with reference to the letter, 'Where's the biblical tolerance' (The Sunday Times, March 23). I was shocked to read my name, S.K. Xavier from Colombo 6 given as its author. I did not write it. I do not know whether there is another Xavier residing in Colombo 6 with the same initials as mine.

Be that as it may, since I am known as S.K. Xavier in Christian circles and since many keep calling me and e-mailing me to find out whether it was I who wrote that article, I Sebaratnam Kumaran Xavier, wish to state categorically that I did not write it.
S.K. Xavier
Dehiwela

Solution to unrealistic pensions and anomalies
It is regrettable that pension anomalies have received little attention by the government, despite a ceasefire lasting a year. As defence expenditure decreased, it was the fervent hope of pensioners, that remedies would be introduced in the budget for 2003. This was not to be.

Hikes in electricity bills, gas, water and telecommunications have pushed up the cost of living. Will the government at least rectify pension anomalies as only those who retired before 1995 are affected?

The situation is so ludicrous that a peon who has retired recently draws a higher pension than his staff officer who retired earlier. Many public servants who retired before 1995 draw about Rs. 3,000 less than those who retired later. Why does the government allow this discrimination to go on while the Constitution states that all are equal before the law?

There is cause for legal action but pension matters are not justifiable. The government, aware of this, is taking mean advantage of the situation.

The pension scheme is to be restructured. Experience shows that in so doing, further anomalies will be created. It is best if the government follows the private sector by giving a lump sum to the retiree divesting itself of a pension burden. Some may not favour this suggestion but it is certainly better than unrealistic pensions and anomalies.
A. Abayaratne
Kurunegala

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